Opinion / Editorial

Bob Mitschke, a 36-year employee of NorthWestern Energy, was killed in an accident last week. He was replacing a damaged transmission structure near Helena Thursday night when the accident happened. He died Friday. Utility workers, just like...

Officials of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa indians are hopeful that new rules will make it easier for the federal Interior Department to relent and grant official status for the tribe. The feds have been reluctant to grant recognition to the...

Hi-Line folks lived through another major weather problem this weekend. A terrible storm with high winds, rain and hail slammed the area, resulting in windows being broken, trees being uprooted, power lines being downed, roads being covered in ice...

North Central Montana Transit is looking for testimonials in an effort to get next year's funding. We hope local governments and Hi-Line residents are generous in providing the letters of endorsement. We can’t think of any new program in recent...

Laurel — This weekend is Living History in Havre. All day Saturday, activities aimed at entertaining and educating Hill County residents about the rich history they enjoy on the Hi-Line will be held at all historical attractions. See the list in...

The city of Havre may be ready to embark on one of the most important projects it has undertaken in years. The city wants to see what it can do to eliminate or at least reduce a blight. A growing number of apartment buildings, and in some cases...

Laurel and Dart — Chuck Johnson and Mike Dennison of Lee Newspapers have been the deans of the Helena press corps for a long time. The two will retire today Johnson started his career covering the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention, He is...

We are about to start a holiday weekend, with sunny weather in the forecast. It doesn’t seem like a time to have darts on our mind. So how about some laurels to celebrate the great things going on in our community. Laurel — To the veterans...

Laurel — Havre is once again coming to the aid of someone in need. Rick Neuwerth, the owner of Grateful Bread in the Atrium Mall, has been beset with health problems. He’s on the rebound, but he has lots of medical bills to pay. People have been...

Laurel — Agriculture is still the biggest industry in Hill County, and the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates the business annually with an Ag Appreciation Dinner. This year, it will be held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of...

More than 40 people spoke at a public forum Thursday morning in favor of naming Greg Kegel permanent chancellor of Montana State University-Northern. Speaker after speaker cited Kegel’s temperament, judgment, ability to create a teamwork atmosphere...

Laurel — Gov. Steve Bullock signed into law the bill that will expand Medicaid to thousands of people who have not been eligible. This ensures that many middle class people will be able to receive health care in the early stages of their illnesses...

Laurel — The Montana Legislature has given final approval to a proposal to help preserve Montana’s Native languages. Gov, Steve Bullock is almost certain to sign it. Sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, the bill would help school...

Laurel — The Montana Legislature has given final approval to expansion of Medicaid that will allow about 70,000 people to benefit from health insurance. Our waitresses, taxi drivers and hundreds of other pink and blue collar workers will soon be...

Laurel — Congrats to the city of Havre and the Hill County Clerk and Recorder’s office for continuing the tradition of having mail-in elections for municipal offices. Voter turnout has increased sharply since mail-in voting was adopted. It is...

Laurel — A Montana Actors’ Theatre play opens, Easter Egg hunts are taking place all over town, special religious services are planned along with church social gatherings and many others events are being held this weekend to celebrate this...

Laurel — Helena lawmakers have it right on this one. There is a movement afoot to allocate $15 million to a fund that will be used to expand broadband service to rural Montana areas. Anyone who has tried to use a cellphone to communicate with...

For decades, the Giveaway House on Havre’s north side has been a godsend for people who need clothing, household items and more. In the 1970s, two concerned women, Ruth Nystrom and Ann Friesen, started the program. It has been a model charity....

This week is Sunshine Week, an annual time designed to encourage openness in governments around the United States. The Society of Professional Journalists and dozens of others groups take part in activities marking the week. Newspapers seem to be...

Havre Trails, a volunteer group of people who like to walk, and the city of Havre have come to an agreement that can lead to vast improvements to one local park and adjacent walking trails. It can be a model for the way to handle the problem the...

Here is a modest proposal: The Montana Legislature ought to give itself a raise. Legislators earn an average of about $10 an hour. Even though they enjoy some good health benefits with the pay, it‘s almost to the point that if Sen. Jonathan Windy...

Laurel — Jack Johnsrud won the 49th annual Hill County Spelling Bee this week. Havre Middle School should be proud. They say that spelling is out of date with all the spell-check equipment we have these days. That’s not true, and Jack has proven...

Laurel — Thousands of people are in Havre this week for the District 9-C basketball tournament. Small towns in Montana — and especially the Hi-Line — go crazy over basketball. The tourney is a social event as well as an athletic event. It is t...

In coming weeks, Havre city officials will be looking at the possibility of a major infrastructure renovation project. It calls for improvements for streets and perhaps sidewalks and stormwater systems. Over the next 20 years, city officials said,...

Laurel Business woman Renelle Braaten and Montana State University-Northern Interim Chancellor Greg Kegel are among the winners of the Montana Ambassadors award. The two have served the community in different ways, though they share in common that...